Following the demolition of the beloved Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in October 2016, Orange County-based developer FivePoint and Los Angeles-based live events producer Live Nation kept live music in Irvine with the help of the City of Irvine and the thousands of music fans that backed #SaveLiveMusicIrvine.

“We were really happy to do the run of shows last year and to kind of test the facility out,” Bret Gallagher, president of Live Nation Southern California, said in a recent interview.

Overall, he said, the venue received “high marks” from fans, however Live Nation and FivePoint have worked out a few kinks for the 2018 season, which, as of now, kicks-off with Huntington Park-based metal band Slayer’s final tour on Friday, May 11.

So far, 17 shows have been announced, including performances by former One Direction member Niall Horan, singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, country superstar Jason Aldean, ’80s rockers Poison with Cheap Trick, comedian Kevin Hart’s Irresponsible Tour, Slightly Stoopid with Pepper, Chicago with REO Speedwagon and more. Gallagher said the 2018 season will eventually include about 30 shows.

See a full list of the announced performers, dates, times and ticket prices below.

Former One Direction member Niall Horan will bring his Flicker World Tour featuring Maren Morris to FivePoint Amphitheatre on Sunday, Aug. 5. (Photo by Owen Sweeney, Associated Press)

The temporary FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine is gearing up for its first full season of shows in 2018. (Photo by Steven Georges, contributing photographer)

Metal band Slayer will bring its final tour through Orange County, playing FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine with Lamb of God, Testament and more on Friday, May 11. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images)

Country music trio Lady Antebellum will headline FivePoint Amphitheatre with fellow country star Darius Rucker on Friday, Aug. 24. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In the coming months, the venue’s operators will be working to improve the parking lots and are currently getting together four “Top Chef” contestants, a local distillery and a brewery to bring in a larger variety of food and beverage options. Gallagher said they’re also committed to encouraging FivePoint Amphitheatre visitors to use the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner since the station drop-off is located just across from main entrance to the venue.

“We’re really going to try hard to push public transportation and to have people take the train,” he said. “Listen, we had great success with our Uber and Lyft pick-up and drop-off location. It worked great, but we really want to develop the Amtrak train because it’s so easy and it’s really right there.”

Gallagher said that Live Nation and FivePoint are still very much on track in working with the City of Irvine to get a larger, permanent venue constructed within the Orange County Great Park’s Cultural Terrace, just across the way from where the temporary venue is currently located. The original goal was to have the new venue completed for the 2020 concert season.

“We haven’t slowed down,” Gallagher said. “Our partners with the City of Irvine, the mayor and the city council members, and with FivePoint, we’re chugging full speed ahead to make that happen.”

FivePoint Amphitheatre’s 2018 Concert Season

Slayer with Lamb of God, Testament and Behemoth at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 11. The show is officially sold-out, however there are secondary-market tickets available starting at $180 at Livenation.com.

Poison with special guests Cheap Trick at 7 p.m. Friday, May 18. Tickets start at $18.75 at Livenation.com.

Styx with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Tesla at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 30. Tickets start at $18.75 at Livenation.com.

Slightly Stoopid’s Schools Out For Summer 2018 Tour with Pepper and Stick Figure at 6 p.m. Friday, June 15. Tickets are $14.50-$39.50 at Livenation.com.

Chicago and REO Speedwagon with Michael Tolcher at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 16. Tickets are $22.50-$129.50 at Livenation.com.

Kevin Hart: The Irresponsible Tour at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 26. Tickets are $32.50-$165 at Livenation.com.

Pentatonix at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 19. Tickets go on sale at Noon on Friday, March 9 at Livenation.com.

Good Vibes Tour with Jason Mraz and Brett Dennen at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14. Tickets are $22.50-$175.50 at Livenation.com.

Rascal Flatts with Dan + Shay on Saturday, Sept. 15. This show is part of the 2018 Country Megaticket, which can be purchased at Megaticket.com. Single tickets have yet to be released for this show.

Jason Aldean with Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina and Dee Jay Silver on Saturday, Sept. 29. This show is part of the 2018 Country Megaticket, which can be purchased at Megaticket.com. Single tickets have yet to be released for this show.

Kelli Skye Fadroski lives for entertainment. She’s worked at The Orange County Register since 2006 and has covered all things music, stand-up comedy, horror and more. When she’s not out reviewing a concert or interviewing some random famous person, she’s catching up on episodes of “The Walking Dead,” somewhere sampling craft beer, enjoying Taco Tuesday or yelling at the contestants through the TV on “Celebrity Name Game” for not knowing basic pop culture trivia. She’s also a diehard Detroit Lions fan.

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